Plant City Entertainment will serve up a night full of food and fun in preparation for its summer production of “Les Miserables.”
The community theater will host its Spaghetti Supper Fundraiser from 4 to 7 p.m. July 13, at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church’s activity hall, 302 Carey St., Plant City. The price per dinner is $10 for adults and $5 for children. Live entertainment will be provided by singers, dancers, musicians and actors from the show.
PCE is the first community theater in Florida to obtain the rights to the popular musical. Performance dates run from July 19 to Aug. 3.
Directed by PCE veteran Domin Pazo, “Les Miserables” will feature a whopping 52-member cast. Pazo spent 10 hours April 10, watching more than 100 hopefuls.
“‘Les Mis’ and ‘Phantom’ are the two most popular musicals in the world,” Pazo said. “They just set such a high standard.”
“Les Miserables” was adapted to theaters last year, also causing a rise in popularity of the musical.
“The movie has to do a lot with it,” Pazo said. “People who loved ‘Les Mis’ in high school dragged their boyfriends and girlfriends and friends to go see it. And now, they love it.”
Cast member Rick Faurote always has loved the songs from “Les Miserables.” During a Broadway Review, he sang some of protagonist Jean Valjean’s numbers. Now, he has a chance to act alongside the song, as one of the Valjeans in Pazo’s production.
“As a tenor, it’s a dream role,” Faurote said. “Actually being able to act it out lets me cross it off my bucket list.”
In addition to the large cast, a live band also will be performing during the show. The 18-member band has been Pazo’s biggest challenge.
“We have limited time with them, so we are learning together,” Pazo said.
“Les Miserables” follows Jean Valjean on his quest of redemption in 19th century France. After breaking his parole to make himself a better man, he is relentlessly hunted by Inspector Jalevert. Throughout the musical, Valjean meets an array of characters, including orphan Cosette, to whom he becomes a guardian.
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
IF YOU GO
‘Les Miserables’ Spaghetti Dinner
WHEN: 4 to 7 p.m. July 13
WHERE: St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 302 Carey St., Plant City
COST: $10 for adults; $5 for children
DETAILS: The dinner will be held to benefit ‘Les Miserables.’ The menu will include spaghetti and choice of meat or plain tomato sauce, salad, bread, dessert and tea, coffee or fruit drink. Live entertainment will be provided by singers, dancers, musicians and actors from the show.
Les Miserables
WHEN: 8 p.m. July 19 to 27 and Aug. 1 to 3; 2 p.m. July 28
WHERE: Plant City Entertainment, 101 N. Thomas St., Plant City
TICKETS: $10 for members or group advanced sales; $12 for seniors and students through 12th grade; $14 general admission non-members
